The Finance Department has accepted a proposal of the Higher Education Department that aided colleges eligible to receive funding under the Centre’ Rashtriya Uchathar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) contribute a part of State’s grant.
The RUSA funding works on a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and States. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had sanctioned ₹329 crore for Kerala under the second phase of funding under RUSA on May 25.
The eligible institutions include five autonomous colleges, 91 aided colleges, and eight government colleges. With the nod from the Finance Department, autonomous colleges will bear 60% of the State’s share, while the corresponding figure for aided colleges will be 50%. According to the proposal submitted by the Higher Education Department to the Finance Department, five autonomous colleges eligible for assistance of ₹5 crore each will get the Centre’s share of ₹3 crore, while the managements will have to mobilise ₹1.2 crore each out of the State’s share of ₹2 crore.
People close to the development said that the proposal to share the State’s funding with the managements was made considering the additional financial liability on the government.
The government will provide the remaining ₹80 lakh each to the five autonomous colleges that include Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Ernakulam; Farook College, Kozhikode; St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, Kozhikode; Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam, and Marian College, Idukki. The 91 aided colleges, which are eligible for RUSA funding of ₹2 crore each, will have to mobilise ₹40 lakh of the State’s share of ₹80 lakh.
The Finance Department has cleared the State’s share under the second phase of RUSA funding despite the financial crisis caused by the floods. K.T. Jaleel, Minister for Higher Education, will soon convene a meeting of management representatives of aided colleges eligible to receive funding as part of formulating various projects.
